10:37am: The Heat have made no offer to the Cavs for Irving, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). Wojnarowski is as reliable as NBA reporters come, so this may simply be a question of semantics — perhaps the Heat conveyed to Cleveland what they’d be willing to give up for Kyrie without officially putting an offer on the table. Either way, Miami looks like a long shot.
8:37am: The Spurs, Clippers, Heat, Knicks, Suns, and Timberwolves are among the teams that have made trade offers to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Wojnarowski, about 20 teams have inquired with the Cavs about Irving, but far fewer have made legit proposals — some clubs are just monitoring the proceedings, while others don’t have the assets necessary to make a deal happen.
As Wojnarowski explains, there’s a discrepancy between the sort of package the Cavaliers are seeking and what Irving’s potential suitors are currently willing to offer. New GM Koby Altman is looking at the package Denver received in 2011 for Carmelo Anthony as a point of reference. The Nuggets acquired young players, win-now veterans, and draft picks in that swap. However, Cleveland’s potential trade partners prefer a “scaled-down” version of that structure, with fewer players and picks, like what the Bulls received for Jimmy Butler.
Here’s more from Woj:
- According to Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers haven’t ruled out the possibility of bringing Irving to training camp, or even extending the process beyond December 15, when most free agent signees become trade-eligible. However, other clubs are skeptical that the Cavs will let the Irving saga continue well into the fall.
- Teams around the league view the Suns and Celtics as the teams best equipped to make a deal for Irving. However, Phoenix hasn’t been willing to include Josh Jackson, and it’s not clear how aggressive Boston would be with its assets.
- The Heat are open to parting with Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow in an offer for Irving, sources tell Wojnarowski. Still, Miami would likely have to make an “overwhelming” offer to get something done, given the history between the two franchises, Woj adds.
- The Pacers had Irving as the No. 1 target on their trade board when they were shopping Paul George, and would have done a one-for-one deal, but the Cavaliers declined that option multiple times, sources tell Woj. The ESPN scribe also notes that a separate deal for George – involving Kevin Love instead of Irving – fell apart when the Cavs insisted on including lottery protection on a first-round pick they’d send to the Pacers. Indiana wanted the pick unprotected.
- Team executives around the NBA are doing a ton of homework on Irving, and have been encouraged by what they’ve found — there’s a consensus that Irving has a history of late nights and partying, but it never affected his play and he has curbed those tendencies into his mid-20s, says Wojnarowski.
Any trade not including your 2017 1st round pick goes into the garbage bin. Any trade involving protected picks into the garbage bin. Any trade involving a useless player into the garbage bin.
There’s only a few players on these teams that are not going to be involved. Porzingis CAT Leonard Booker. Everyone else that was not just signed or reupped is fair game IMO.
Clippers and Spurs have nothing to offer. Heat have eh same w Knicks. Suns and Wolves are the better trade partners. I’d even throw out a Bulls trade idea:
Wade + Dunn + a pick. Need to do the math. I’m on Mobile.
You can demand all you want. Doesn’t hurt to shoot for the moon. Cavs have very little leverage since the news is now public. Same thing happened to Denver with Melo, except he would only resign with New York. That Melo trade was considered terrible at the time. Mozgov, Felton, Gallo, and chandler were all role players. They got a 1st and swap rights. That’s not a major haul. Gallo and chandler did improve their games quite a bit, and Denver actually played better once Melo was gone but they didn’t get any studs in the trade. It’s hilarious to think that the Cavs will get anything close to equal value for Irving.
Cavs have no leverage? Cavs have him under contract. They don’t HAVE to trade him. They have no restrictions to whom they can trade him. Irving has an attractive contract, is under control for 2 more years, is only 26 and at the top of his game. There’s a reason why they have so many interested teams.
Some team will step up and say “Irving is what I need to get over the hump” and they’ll present more attractive offers. You can’t compare Irving to Melo or Paul George’s situation.
The Cavs have some leverage but not that much, yes they don’t HAVE to trade him but they NEED to trade him. No team wants a guy that doesn’t want to play for them and is openly asking to get traded. The Cavs only real leverage is getting teams into a bidding war and hope there’s two teams that want Irving bad enough. If there is only one team that really wants (as in enough to trade any play/pick they have) then the Cavs won’t get anything out of this world for him, this is how it goes in every sport in situations like this.
Realistically, I think any team that wants Irving is going to be aggressive about getting him into camp. There is zero chance the Cavs will sell for pennies on the dollar. They simply don’t have to. These guys are professionals and won’t be the first stars that had to co-exist knowing that there’s tension. But I think they’ll be plenty enough teams that will make good offers because Irving is simply worth it.
That’s actually a trade I think both teams would reject. Dunn isn’t going to help a playoff team and Wade is a shell of his former self. The most valuable asset, by far, would be the Bulls top pick. To that, I think the Bulls would rather get a top-5 pick next year and have a cost-controlled potential star than to go back to being an 8th seed with a young star eating up all their cap room. Really – Kyrie puts the Bulls in a similar spot they were in with Butler. And the package going back to Cleveland doesn’t make them a contender in 2017-18.
But the Cavs do have leverage. If you want to see an example of a team with no leverage in a trade, see the Paul George trade. The Cavs aren’t forced to take a bad trade because Irving is under contract for two years. If he doesn’t show up, they can suspend him. If he plays, it makes them competitive for at least one more title run.
Denver got a great package with zero leverage. Those “role” players were 4 of the top 6 players on an above .500 team. Gallo (at the time) was a vastly better asset than any of IT, Tatum, Bledsoe or Jackson. Washington offered the 5th pick and agreed to take Jared Jeffries contract for Chandler. Felton was having an All Star level year at 26 (and traded for Andre Miller, a 1st and 2nd at the end of the year, and Mozgov was a rookie big with unusual size/athleticism and a shot. The picks were both in the lottery (a swap with no protection is more valuable than a lottery or top 10 protected pick). They were used (in effect) to get Nurkic and G.Harris (on a trade down from 11) in 2014 and J.Murray in 2016 (at 7). The GM made his name (and about 50 mm in contract value) on that deal.
Most people believe the Knicks severely over paid in that trade. The Knicks were desperate to get a star after striking out on Lebron and the Nuggets used that to there advantage. The Cavs can ask but no chance they get that kind of package. They could get some combination of picks, young prospects, and veterans but they will not get all three. And Kyrie is signed for only 2 years.
Kyrie is under contract for 3 years I believe. Melo wasnt.
I wouldn’t say the Spurs have nothing to offer. Tell me a package of Danny green, Aldridge,Murray, a draft n stash and picks for irving and love would make sense for both sides. Green and Aldridge can opt out after this season and the Cavs having 32 million in expiring contracts would help. Spurs could take shumpert too if that helps. Just depends what everyone else is offering.
I wouldn’t take that for Kyrie alone, let alone for Kevin Love too. So yes, the Spurs have nothing to offer.
ditto. and I’m not a Spurs fan. that package might get you Love only, but not Irving
Cavs aren’t looking for salary relief unless we’re talking about packaging Smith, Shump and maybe Tristan as part of the package.
It’s been stated what the Cavs want so what your offering means nothing. Draft and stash players usually end up not being major impact players and the Spurs picks are more than likely going to be late 1st rounders which is where you find role players not impact players. The only reason why the Spurs are being mentioned is because they were on Irving’s list but since he doesn’t have a no-trade it means nothing as they don’t need or want his approval.
I’d do Wade Dunn and a pick in heartbeat but garpax the lemmings aren’t sharp enough to do that. Any offer from knicks with melo , throw in garbage can. Melo his contract his declining game = NO MARKET , NO VALUE, No return
A Melo + 1st rnd unprotected pickS would be listened to especially if we can dump Shump on them too.
it would be Ntilikina as well
Why would the Knicks not be willing to give up Porzingis? I thought I heard he wants out of New York and will not resign, why not bring in a player who could be the cornerstone of the franchise and build around Kyrie?
Because the Knicks aren’ willing to trade him. That’s basically been the report since Kyrie’s trade request first came out.
He does not want out, or he would not have so upset that Jackson discussed trading him. Porzingis is not a top 20 player, but is comfortably a top 20 asset. So is Irving. None of the other players mentioned are close. But the Knicks have nothing else, so do you want to start a rebuild around a 21 year old or a 25 year old? If the Knicks were in a different place (Melo and Noah were 25), I’d consider the trade straight up. But they’re not.
I like how you think DXC, but I’ll add another. Pozingis has upside as a tall player. And it looks promising. Kyrie at 25 already is a All Star MVP, Olympic Gold medal winner, NBA Champ, FIBA MVP to go along with an impossible player to guard that just happens to have the best handles in the league. There’s a clear difference.
Point me to a report that said Porzingis wanted out of NY. I haven’t read one. Trading Porzingis for Irving is just outright stupid. Melo, Noah, 2019
At the end of the day, the buyers decide what a guy’s trade value is.
Can’t see heat trading Winslow. Riley and spo are extremely high on him.
Winslow is a poor mans jae crowder. Miami isn’t high on him they just want to see if they wasted a lottery pick or not.
Winslow is still only 21, and is going to be as good as, if not better than Crowder within the next two or three years. He was averaging 10, 5 and 4 before he went down last year as a 20 year old and is going to get significant minutes this season to help his development.
ironic how Winslow gets hurt and the heat go on a historic run. Winslow is going to be an ok role player(on bad teams). Just face it Miami picked the wrong player in that draft.
The whole team was injured in the 1st half. Winslow was also playing with an injured wrist. The improved mechanics on his shot were gone after he hurt himself in the preseason, but his handle was much improved, which should help him on his own. They also lost 17 close games, which they turned around in the 2nd half. Free throws were an issue. Also, the rotation came into place, after constantly having to change everything b/c of injury, so the floor was more opened up b/c of that reason, as well as Waiters and Dragic shooting the lights out, more than lack of Winslow.
Spot on formerlyz. Everyone’s sleeping on him because he had an injury filled season.
Spot on formerlyz. Everyone’s sleeping on him because he had an injury plagued season.
Hahahah I bet you’re a salty saltics fan. There’s a reason you bums offered 4 first round picks he’s gona be special. Have fun with Danny ainges best ever draft choice been Avery Bradley LOL
Geez Louise………..Winslow vs one of the top players in the NBA on and off the court? In Miami? Where they have NO legit superstars? Are you crazy????
The thing that I would worry about and the reason why I’m shocked Irving wants to go to Miami is the fact that Miami just gave Dion Waiters a huge contract and the two didn’t get along on the court and it seems that they both want to be the main guy on the floor. Can’t see them co-existing and I didn’t get the impression than LBJ likes Waiters as a teammate.
Waiters > Irving
Winslow is a poor man’s Alonzo Gee.
Hahahaha nice
Teams around the league view the Suns and Celtics as the teams best equipped to make a deal for Irving.
I don’t agree, the Sun are not going to bust up their team and therefore Josh Jackson is going nowhere.
The Celtics don’t need a PG and their assets have too many lines tethered to them
No, I really think the Sixers could get something done, but won’t, which is very disappointing to me!!!
PS I was right about the Sixers media, their main man (Person) (well one of them was on vacation), the others are covering the Eagles. However, the one fella does not want him, but I do!!! I would love to see the Sixers change their mind and go and get Irving!
For Irving the Celtics would part with Thomas and others to balance Kyrie’s contract + a first round pick.
Where would be the loyalty yo Isiah Thomas be?
Plus, Thomas and Irving are similar players, it would be replacing a peg with a peg.
I just don’t see it.
Loyalty? Thomas already talking about show me the money — loyalty has been gone for a long time. Irving is a much better defender than Thomas.
Loyalty isn’t taking discounts, it’s being committed to your team (unless you’re Dirk or KD cause then it’s both) Harden got 4yr/170mil added onto his extension, and I would say he’s loyal to the Rockets. Committed to his team (at what is now market price) and going in to try and compete for a championship every year. But Isaiah Thomas for sure deserves to get paid and someone is going to pay him regardless of what Ainge does. Loyalty shouldn’t even be in the discussion when he’s just trying to get paid what he’s worth.
Also, Thomas well never be a good defender because of his size. Kyrie can be a good defender if he puts the effort in. Plus, many people around the league don’t view Thomas as a max player, but I’m sure they’d view Kyrie as one.
IT will eventually have surgery on that torn labrum in his hip. My daughter had that injury in high school and the Doc was honest with us – she could take some injections and rough it out for her senior year but would definitely Italy either undergo surgery after graduating or walk with a limp through college. Plus he’s gonna get banged hard this year as the League catches up to him. Irving has shown his offensive skills are top notch – and he has to plat second d fiddle to LeBron. I think I’d I Kyrie is a much better defender than IT, although that’s not saying much, just his size difference would help in Stevens defensive schemes. Irving alone won’t get the Celts a championship but if they can get away with keeping one of the Nets/Lakers picks next year, and can finally land a BIG rookie, I like the C’s chances with Irving and Smart, Hayward, Brown and Horford with Rozier, Tatum and Morris off the bench. By 2019, I ic and their 2018 pick just might put them in the same league as Golden State … IT, Crowder and the lower of the Nets/Lakers lottery pick plus our own 1st rounder and I think Danny still has about fifty second round picks over the next three years we could throw in…
might just be
The Suns wouldn’t “bust up” a team that only won 24 games and had the 2nd worst record in basketball in the most competetive conference that just added Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Paul Milsap and a soon to be vastly improved Laker organization?………Let that soak in for a second.
As long as the Suns can keep Booker then they should be willing to let everyone else go and build around Irving and Booker.
Good thing you’re not a rebuilding team’S GM
What are you talking about? First off, this is the NBA. Any player you draft can leave in 4-6 seasons. Trading Bledsoe and Jackson doesn’t kill you. In fact, if you trade for Irving and he likes it then you extend him. He’s only 26. You get a known young quantity whereas you have no idea what Jackson or those future picks are going to be. We’re not talking about trading for Paul George who has stated he wants to be a Laker. We’re not talking about Carmelo Anthony who is past his prime. At what point does management make an attempt to sign a mega star talent?
The Suns have had 12 1st rnd picks in the last 6 years, obviously some higher than others, yet their record for the last 4 years has been a series of fewer and fewer wins per season.
Irving gives you a legit star and highly marketable player you can build around. Bledsoe, Jackson and a 1st rnd pick is not blowing up your squad. You’ll have Irving, Booker and Warren to build around.
So what is the “history” between the Heat and the Cavs? I wasn’t aware of any. I don’t think anyone really cares that Lebron James has played for both teams. Was there something else more relevant?
Woj didn’t go into it, but I assume there’s some lingering LeBron-related resentment both ways, since he left Cleveland for Miami and then Miami for Cleveland. I’m sure they’d still make a deal if it was mutually beneficial. I imagine neither team is too eager to help the other though.
It seems to me that throughout all of sports, rivalries have never been less important to GM’s than they are now. They almost always seem to make the right move if it helps their team.
Aldridge, Green, Murray, 2018 1st for Kyrie and one of Frye/Shumpert/JR
Its not a bad idea, but I just don’t see the Cavs wanting Aldridge unless Love is attached to the deal (increasing the price for San Antonio) or they have another deal in place to trade Love. A Love/Aldridge frontcourt would bleed points.
I like Melo but he is starting to upset me. About a month ago he said, he would waive his ntc for The Cavs or Rockets. A Rockets deal is seemingly difficult atm, so The Cavs it is. Now he only wants to go to the Rockets, smh. A deal now with the Cavs makes since. He’d be with his boy Lebron, who will be running the offense and Rose who is a certified scorer. They’d win the eastern conference and make a deep finals run. Isn’t that what Melo wanted? I think Melo secretly still wants to stay in NY and is making the Knicks front office suffer for their support in trying to run him out of town.
If he wants out, Cleveland is the best option for Melo and the Knicks. Melo to the Cavs for Irving and Shumpert and a first rounder is more than fair. If the Cavs want more than one first rounder, the Knicks should insist that they take Noah as well. Also, if the Knicks include their 2018 and/or 2019 first rounders, they should be lottery protected. If the Cavs want unprotected picks then 2020
If the Cavs want unprotected picks then it’s 2020
Don’t know why it keeps cutting off the rest of my post
News flash melo not going anywhere because NO ONE WANTS HIM, HIS MARKET VALUE IS A GOOSE EGG , ZIP:)
Absolutely not true. Horrible post. Teams want him just not on a 2/$50 mil contract AND you have to trade something of significant value (to make salaries match) to get him. By default, it makes sense that whomever wants him is in a “win now” mode and if I have to match his salary then that means I probably have to give up a significant piece (in case of the Cavs that would be Irving or Love) unless the Knicks would take back Shump and Smith which I’m sure they wouldn’t do.
i get why they wouldnt take back Smith but i can see the Knicks taking back Shumpert and Frye in a deal for Irving. Like i said earlier if the Cavs want more picks, they’d have to take Noah. If the Cavs take Noah i’d give up 2019 lottery protected and 2021 unprotected for Irving, Shumpert, and Frye…sending out Melo and Noah.
Noah in Cleveland? No. Not after what he said about the city.
The Cavs aren’t trading Irving for Melo. Melo is no longer viewed as a wing player (if they were going to trade for him it would be for Love, and they don’t want to do that). Nobody cares much about lottery protected picks. Certainly the Cavs aren’t taking on additional salary (Noah) at 400% or more tax, and couldn’t even if they wanted to. I’m a Knick fan, but this trade (when the offers get real) isn’t right for the Knicks right now. They’re undertalented and have finally committed to rebuild. This isn’t consistent with that, and it can’t be made so with packages that will only be laughed at or completely deplete the roster and future picks so that (like Melo) KI is playing with short deck.
Melo for Kyrie, Shump, and a first rounder is a steal for the Knicks. Kyrie is the most valuable player in the deal, so how do the Cavs also end up giving up a first rounder? Also, the Cavs want no business with Noah. If the Knicks were insistent on the Cavs taking Noah in exchange for Shump, the Cavs would hang up right away. Shump has a bad contract, but is a free agent in two years (as opposed to Noah’s three years). Shump is also cheaper than Noah. So what you’re basically saying is the Cavs should give up the best player in the deal and a first round pick for two of the worst contracts in the league (Melo and Noah) and protected first rounders/first rounders that are at least 3 years away. No competent GM in the history of any sport would ever agree to that deal.
They have no leverage. If teams wait them out their asking price will go down. They are not going to want to bring him to camp.
Can they just shelve him until 12/15 and go ahead and work out a deal with players that are not tradable until then (contingent on no injuries). Is that legal under the CBA?
Please elaborate on how the Cavs don’t have leverage. Is Kyrie a free agent at the end of the year? No. Does he have a no trade clause? No. Is he on a bad contract? No. What makes it that the Cavs have no leverage? That he doesn’t want to be there? That hardly matters when Kyrie is locked into Cleveland for at least two more years. Kyrie can’t force his way to another team (and the Cavs don’t owe Kyrie anything to send him to one of his preferred destinations).
True Kyrie’s leverage is very limited. And yes he cannot force his way to another team. But all he has to do is inform the team he goes to that he will not re sign and his trade value down. No team is mortgaging young assets and multiple draft picks for two years. The Cavs can still get a good package but any ideas of a 2010 Melo package is just plain delusional. They should ask but no chance they get that. The Cavs bind is that they want veterans to appease LeBron and young assests and picks for protection if Lebron leaves. They will have to settle for two out of those three because no team is giving them all that.
Obviously I’m thinking Teague and Wiggins here.
For shumpert and frye… yes But not for Kyrie.
Is Bledsoe and Jackson better than IT and Smart or Tatum?? Would the Celts do that? Seems like a good move for them. They get A slightly better player and they have plenty of depth at wing. Would that blow up their cap?
Kyrie is making 20+ and I think IT and Smart/Tatum combine to be less than 15 million. It would work for the Cavs not the Celtics though
Kyrie at $18.9M; Crowder, Thomas, Rozier contracts work according to ESPM trade machine
Lol no body wants Rozier. The only people who value Rozier are Danny Ainge and crazy Celtics fans. I’ve seen Rozier thrown into almost every trade speculation involving the Celtics and another team’s superstar and it makes me laugh when people insist that he is a valuable piece. He’s going to be a career backup point guard yet people seem to value him as a rookie oozing with potential.
Responding to the post above, try reading in context.
Rozier has room to grow. Has shown potential in short bursts. Needs to show consistency and sustained performance, which may come with experience and playing time. He is def more valuable to the Celtics right now than to other teams. The Celtics are at a disadvantage for trades because they have players currently on bargain contracts and therefore would have to give up more than fair value to match salaries with a player coming back who is compensated at fair value. They would have to be filling an obvious need. I don’t think I would be looking seriously at Kyrie if I were the Celtics, despite his obvious talent.
The salaries work. But IT is a bad fit, and might be looking for 200 mm at the end of next year (through his 30s). NOT A CHANCE. Smart has very little trade value (if he had any, he, not Bradley, would have been traded). Tatum is a good piece, but can’t be the centerpiece.
Bledsoe is a way better defender and scoring isn’t the biggest problem with the cavs it’s being able to defend the plethora of warriors scorers and Bledsoe and Jackson can do that. Bledsoe is still a solid scorer too.
Klay Thompson straight up
LBJ is the GM, (Sad to say)…Whatever he wants, will happen.
Irving will get dealt. I think to Phoenix, San Antonio or Los Angeles Clippers… In the beginning I wanted Miami to get him but now, I’d rather just hold on to our core and hope Irving gets sent out west… Makes Cleveland that much weaker. Think about how often Irving had saved LeBron’s a** in the playoffs… I’m happy with Dragic as our pg setting the tempo and I think Winslow is going to have a break out year.
The Spurs nor Clippers have anything the Cavs would want in exchange. Obviously Leonard nor Griffin are going anywhere.
Clips could offer DeAndre Jordan, Austin Rivers and a 1st rounder for Kyrie and maybe Shumpurt… Spurs could offer a package of Aldridge and Danny Green for Kyrie and maybe Iman Shumprt or Frye.
Clips and Spurs would take those trades in a heartbeat. Cavs might consider Clips offer because it gives them an upgrade over TT at center, who’ll slide to the bench, while they get Rivers who would be a good fit next to LeBron. In the case of the Spurs deal, Cavs would get Aldridge to pair with LeBron and Love up front, while getting an elite defender and solid 3pt shooter in Green.
Other than that, the Phoenix deal doesnt get done i dont think unless Josh Jackson is included… Those are the Cavs best options, unless they’re willing to take a Dragic/Winslow/Richardson deal from Miami.
Aldridge would make the Cavs worse.
No matter what trade the Cavs make, I think it’ll make them worse…
An Aldridge/Love frontcourt would bleed points. No rim protection and inconsistent play when not the team’s first option. Golden State embarasses those two when they’re alone, playing both of them against Golden State would be a circus.
I actually typed a post about the Clippers but decided not to hit send because it didn’t make sense. It was for the same exact players you mentioned. However, Jordan is a nice piece but the picks are probably not going to be worth anything because with Irving and Griffin and I would assume Thompson the Clippers are still going to be a 50 win team and thus pick in the late 1st round. The trade doesn’t achieve the stated goal of ready now star payer, a young player and good picks.
The Cavs don’t need to trade him, and shouldn’t if the offers don’t get better. This is not Carmelo or George or even Butler. KI is 25 and has 2 years left on his contract (along with an option). The Cavs are not rebuilding, but in hyper win now mode. Not surprising for teams to be putting out “comfortable” offers at this point. But, likewise, there is no reason for the Cavs to limit their ask. As a potential suitor it’s wise to put your best offer on the table prior to training camp. Some of these listed teams don’t have the pieces, others are simply not good enough yet to make this kind fo deal.
Irving and Shumpert for Bledsoe, Chandler, Warren and one of Miami’s 1st rd picks that the Suns own. Trade works and makes the Cavs better link to espn.com
Any news on the Lakers trading for Kyrie lrving?
A lot of reasons that would not happen.
David Griffin would have found a way to get Anthony Davis and Devin Booker in a three team trade for him by now
The Cav need to sit tight until after December 15, 2017. Kyrie failed to show it’s OK. That gives the Cavs a month or so to find out if the New pieces fit in their system. This maybe a blessing in disguise. The Cav need to upgrade
and win without Lebron on the floor. The Warriors was able to continue winning with Durant sideline for 6 to 8 weeks. The Cav can’t Win without Lebron. Once they can put a team floor and win without Lebron. Kyrie sells tickets for show and sells ticket for NBA championships!
Because Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green…
Kyrie can’t hold that load
I think the best package would b to the Suns for Bledsoe, Chriss, Knight and a pick. Knights hurt I know. But he gives them the backup they’ve been looking for since delly after this season. This year rose fills the void. U can flip Chriss for a win now player or keep him and try to develop him. The suns can afford to trade Chriss because they have like 8 bigs in a guard friendly league
except that trade wouldn’t work, the Cavs would be taking on too much salary and don’t have the cap space. Plus they don’t want Knight. Nobody does right now.
The Kyrie situation is interesting b/c you do have to look at the Butler trade. Both have 2 years left on their deal, but Butler had made it known he wanted to stay with Chicago. The Cavs leverage is hurt here b/c everyone knows that Kyrie wants out. So does his value die b/c of that? Kyrie is younger, and the better scorer, although Butler is clearly the better overall player. It really felt like the Bulls didnt get as much for Butler as they should have though, so I’d have to think Kyrie goes for the same, or slightly more than what Butler went for
Knicks- Kyrie Irving
Cavs- Carmelo Anothony and 1st or 2nd rounder
Would be a great deal and major steal for the Knicks. An absolute crap deal for the Cavs.